DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE SNARES REGION'S YOUTH

There is good news and bad news about substance abuse in local
schools, according to the Florida Department of Children and
Families' 2004 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey.

The good news is that substance abuse is down slightly, while the bad
news is it is still too high. The drop in usage is due to community-
wide efforts, according to Robyn Vanover, safe and drug-free schools
coordinator for Martin County, but the high level shows not everyone
is committed to ending the problem.

Vanover made her comments after an editorial and an article appeared
citing 2002 figures supplied by the Children Services Council. Those
statistics showed Martin County with the second highest substance
abuse rate in the state. The new figures show Martin still tied for
second with four other counties, but with figures that are lower than
the earlier survey.

The numbers show similar slight reductions for St. Lucie and Indian
River counties.

Alcohol is the substance most abused by school-age youth. Martin
County youth rank sixth in the state for alcohol abuse, with 37
percent of youth saying they abuse alcohol. Indian River and St.
Lucie counties came in at 35.5 percent and 32.1 percent, respectively.

On marijuana, Martin tied for second place with three other counties,
with 14.7 percent of students admitting to using the drug, compared
with 12.6 percent in Indian River County and 13.4 percent in St. Lucie County.

Demographics are to blame for the high Martin County figures,
according to Vanover. "We have a high 'at-risk' student population,"
she said. "At risk" in this context means students who are mostly
white, middle-to upper-income, with the means to experiment with
drugs and alcohol.

Vanover said that despite school-based efforts, "We have a population
of parents with a positive attitude toward drugs and alcohol. They
allow their use in their homes and that sends a bad message. We need
to convince them to delay alcohol use as long as possible. There is
now sound scientific evidence that alcohol use by teenagers impairs
their brain development as it relates to judgment, reasoning and
decision making."

Vanover said schools are working to create a safe learning
environment for students to help create a protective envelope around
them to reduce drug usage. "Our teachers have instructional tools
they can integrate into their programs to deliver an anti-substance
abuse message," she said.

That's fine, and such initiatives should be on the agenda in Indian
River and St. Lucie counties, as well. But let's also acknowledge
that no program devised or imposed by government can supplant the
role of families. Loving parents are those who muster the maturity
and accept the responsibility to teach their children to just say no.